Cutting apparatus for making draperies, curtains, awnings, and the like

ABSTRACT

This invention provides novel apparatus for cutting a sheet of material into a segment of a desired dimension for making draperies, curtains awnings, and the like therefrom. Basically, the apparatus comprises: support means having a first end and a second end opposite from the first end and an opening therethrough between the ends; supply means mounted adjacent to the first end of the support means for supplying a sheet of material; clamp means mounted adjacent to the second end of the support means for clamping a leading edge of the sheet of material thereto; conveyor means including a conveyor section extending through the support means opening and being engageable with the underside of the sheet of material between the supply means and the clamp means; conveyor drive means for driving the conveyor means to cause a portion of the sheet of material to be disposed on the conveyor section over the support means opening in an inverted generally U-shape; first control means for energizing the conveyor drive means; second control means for deenergizing the conveyor drive means when the height above the support means opening of the bight of the inverted generally Ushape reaches a desired level; and cutter means for severing the trailing edge of the inverted generally U-shape of the sheet of material from the supply means.

United States Patent 1191 Morgan et al.

1451 Sept. 23, 1975 CUTTING APPARATUS FOR MAKING DRAPERIES, CURTAINS,AWNINGS, AND THE LIKE [76] Inventors: Ronald Wade Morgan, 9509 TivertonWay, Louisville, Ky. 40222; David L. Witherspoon, PO. Box 23182,Anchorage, Ky. 40223 22 Filed: Jan. 31, 1975 21 Appl. No.: 546,020

[52] US. Cl. 83/81; 83/83; 83/155; 83/241; 83/278; 83/282 [51] Int. Cl.B26D 5/24; B26D 5/42 [58] Field of Search 83/81, 83, 155, 222, 241,83/278, 282

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,715,941 8/1955 Rankin etal. 83/83 X 3,680,418 8/1972 Phillips 83/282 X Primary Examiner--J. M.Meister Attorney, Agent, or FirmHarry B. ODonnell, Ill

[57] ABSTRACT This invention provides novel apparatus for cutting asheet of material into a segment of a desired dimension for makingdraperies, curtains awnings, and the like therefrom. Basically, theapparatus comprises: support means having a first end and a second endopposite from the first end and an opening therethrough between theends; supply means mounted adjacent to the first end of the supportmeans for supplying a sheet of material; clamp means mounted adjacent tothe second end of the support means for clamping a leading edge of thesheet of material thereto; conveyor means including a conveyor sectionextending through the support means opening and being engageable withthe underside of the sheet of material between the supply means and theclamp means; conveyor drive means for driving the conveyor means tocause a portion of the sheet of material to be disposed on the conveyorsection over the support means opening in an inverted generally U-shape;first control means for energizing the conveyor drive means; secondcontrol means for de-energizing the conveyor drive means when the heightabove the support means opening of the bight of the inverted generallyU-shape reaches a desired level; and cutter means for severing thetrailing edge of the inverted generally U-shape of the sheet of materialfrom the supply means.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 of33,906,824

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US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,906,824

FIG. 8

CUTTING APPARATUS FOR MAKING DRAPERIES, CURTAINS, AWNINGS, AND THE LIKEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus formanufacturing draperies, curtains, awnings, and the like and, moreparticularly, to apparatus for cutting a sheet of material into asegment of a desired dimension for. making draperies, curtains, awnings,and the like therefrom.

The general procedure in manufacturing draperies, curtains, awnings, andthe like is to attach side by side, as by sewing, a sufficient number ofvertical panels of sheet material to provide the desired overall widthof the main section of the drapery, curtain, awning, or the like.

It has, in the past, been common practice, called tabling and cutting,to lay sheet material which is to be made into such segments or panelson a large horizontal table top and to then manually make measurementsand manually cut each such required segment or panel from the sheet.This tedious old manual horizontal tabling and cutting procedure can beobviated through the employment of vertical tabling and cuttingapparatus such as described in US. Pat. No. 3,738,007. However, whilequite good, this patented vertical tabling and cutting apparatusrequires a workroom having a height at least somewhat greater than themaximum length of the segment or panel that is to be measured and cutthereby. The present invention provides novel apparatus which, amongother things, can greatly reduce the required height of the workroom ascompared with that needed for the aforenoted patented vertical tablingand cutting apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides novel apparatusfor cutting a sheet of material into a segment of a desired dimensionfor making draperies, curtains, awnings, .and the like therefrom.Basically, the apparatus comprises: support means having a first end anda second end opposite from the first end and an opening therethroughbetween the ends; supply means mounted adjacent to the first end of thesupport means for supplying a sheet of material; clamp means mountedadjacent to the second end of the support means for clamping a leadingedge of the sheet of material thereto; conveyor means including aconveyor section extending through the support means opening and beingengageable with the underside of the sheet of material between thesupply means and the clamp means; conveyor drive means for driving theconveyor means to cause a portion of the sheet of material to bedisposed on the conveyor section over the support means opening in aninverted generally U-shape; first control means for energizing theconveyor drive means; second control means for dc-energizing theconveyor drive means when the .height above the support means opening ofthe bight of the inverted generally U-shape reaches a desired level;

It is further desirable that second clamp means be provided for clampingthe sheet of material to the support means adjacent to the trailing edgeof the inverted generally U-shape following the operation of the secondcontrol means and during the severing operation of the cutter means,that third control means be provided for energizing second drive meansto operate the firstmentioned clamp means to clamp the leading edge ofthe sheet of material to the first end of the support means prior to theoperation of the second control means, and that fourth control means beprovided for energizing third drive means to operate the second clampmeans to clamp the sheet of material to the support means following theoperation of the second control means and during the severing by thecutter means. It is yet further desirable that fifth control means beprovided that are operable following the operation of the second controlmeans to energize fourth drive means to cause the cutter means toperform the severing and that sixth control means be provided that areoperable after completion of the severing by the cutter means tode-energize the drive means for the firstmentioned clamp means and to,then, re-energize the conveyor drive means tofurther transport thesevered inverted generally U-shape toward a storage area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The present invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

F IG. 1 is a somewhat schematic, right side elevational view of apresently preferred form of the novel apparatus that is provided inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, schematic left side elevational view of theapparatus of FIG. 1 illustrating it in a first condition of operation;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 3, but showing theapparatus in another condition of operation;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, but showing theapparatus in yet another condition of operation;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, but showingthe apparatus in still another condition of operation;

FIG. 7 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary elevational perspective viewshowing in detail the construction of the particular control means ofthe apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-6 which can be operated to selectivelyadjust the desired dimension of the segment or panel of material to becut thereby; and

FIG. 8 is a diagramatic showing of a presently preferred form of controlmeans for the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Turning now to the drawings, and more particularly,to FIGS. 1-6 thereof, there is illustrated a presently preferredembodiment of a novel apparatus 10 that is provided in accordance withthe present invention for cutting a sheet of material 1 1 into a segment12 of a desired dimension for making draperies, curtains, awnings, andthe like therefrom.

As illustrated, the apparatus 10 comprises support means 13 including agenerally horizontal top surface 14 having a width greater than that ofthe'widest sheet of the material 11 to be operated upon by the apparatuswhich is elevated above a workroom floor by plural legs 15. The topsurface 14 of the support means 13 has a first end 14A and a second end148 opposite from its first end 14A and an opening 14C therethroughbetween those two ends 14A and 14B.

As best shown in drawing FIGS. 1 and 3-6, supply means 16 are mountedadjacent to the first end 14A' of the top surface- 14 of the supportmeans 13 for supplying the sheet of material 11 to extend across thatsurface 14 between its firstand second ends 14A and 14B and over itsopening 14C. While other forms, such as catch box, etc., might also beutilized, the illustrated supply means 16 comprises a trough 17 that ismounted between plural ones of the support means legs adjacent to thefirst end 14A of the support means top surface 14 and removably receivesa spool 18 having wrapped around it the sheet of material 11.

As also shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-7, first clamp means 19 are providedadjacent to the second end 14B of the support means top surface 14 forreleaseably clamping a leading edge 11A of the sheet of material 11thereto.

As further shown in FIGS. 17, the apparatus 10 of the present inventionfurther comprises conveyor means 20 including a conveyor sectionextending through the support means opening 14C and being engageablewith the underside of the sheet of material 11 between the supply means16 and the first clamp means 19. As illustrated, the conveyor means 20comprises a frame 21 that is mounted adjacent to the second end 14B ofthe material sheet support means top surface 14. The conveyor frame 21includes two parallel upright members 21A that are mounted to thematerial sheet support means 13 adjacent to the opening 14C through itstop surface 14 and which are spaced apart from one another by at leastthe width of that surface 14C and extend upwardly therefrom to a heightgreater than the top surface 22A of storage means 22 that are providedfor subsequently receiving the segment 12 of the sheet of material 11.The conveyor frame 21 fur-' ther includes a pair of generallyhorizontally arranged, spaced-apart, parallel members which arerespectively fixedly joined to the upper ends of the two upright framemembers 21A, to extend over the storage means top surface 22A. As bestshown in drawing FIG. 1, these two generally horizontally arranged framemembers 21B are further supported above the workroom floor by otherupright 21C and diagonally arranged 21D frame members.

As best shown in drawing FIGS. 1-7, the conveyor means 21 furthercomprises a plurality of generally horizontally arranged spaced-apart,parallel rods 21R, each of which has its opposite ends respectivelyconnected to a pair of endless chains 23A and 23B that are respectivelyengaged around sprockets 24, which are, in turn, mounted on plural pairsof rotatable shafts 24A, 24B, 24C, and 24D as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and3-6, a first pair of these sprocketed shafts 24A are rotatably joumalledin the legs 15 of the sheet support means 13, which are located adjacentto the second end of the support means top surface 14 and at anelevation sufficiently lower than the opening 14C through that surface14, such that the chain-carried rods 21R can be located beneath thatopening 14C for movement therethrough and engagement with the undersideof a sheet of material 11 situated between the supply means 14 and thefirst clamp means 19. And, as further illustrated, the other pairs ofthese sprocketed shafts 24B, 24C, and 24D are respectively rotatablyjournalled in the conveyor frame means 21 at the junction of its uprightframe members 21A, and generally horizontally arranged frame members218, at the distal ends of its generally horizontallyarranged framemembers 21B, and at a bracket 25 that extends downwardly from itsgenerally horizontal frame members 218 at a point between the aforenotedjunction and the storage means 22.

As further shown in drawing FIGS. 1-3 and 6, drive means 26 are providedfor driving the conveyor means 20 to cause a portion of the sheet ofmaterial 1 1, which has been previously situated on the sheet supportmeans top surface 14 between the supply means 16 and the front clampmeans 19 with its leading edge clamped to the second end 148 of thatsurface 14 by the first clamp means 19, to have its underside engaged byone of the conveyor rods 21R and thus cause a portion of the sheet ofmaterial 11 to be disposed on the conveyor rod 21R over the opening 14Cthrough the support means top surface 14 in an inverted generallyU-shaped l 1U (See especially drawing FIG. 4). As illustrated, theseconveyor drive means 26 include a first electric motor 27 mounted by abracket 27F to the sheet support means 13 and having a rotary outputshaft 27A mounting a first sheave 28A that is connected by an endlessbelt 29 to another sheave 288 that is connected to one of the two shaftsof the lower-most pair 24A of sprocketed shafts of the conveyor means21.

In accordance with the present invention, and as best shown in drawingFIG. 8, the apparatus 10 of the present invention is also provided withfirst control means, including a normally open manually operatedelectrical switch 30, that is mounted on the sheet support meansadjacent to the front clamp means 19, which can be I closed by anoperator of the apparatus 10, to energize the electric motor 27 andthus, in turn, cause the conveyor means 20 to be driven as described inthe foregoing paragraph. And, second control means, including a firstlimit switch means 31 comprising a plurality of switch contacts 31A,31B, 31C, 31D and 31E housed within a single switch housing 31H that ismounted on one of the upright members 21A of the conveyor frame means 21for adjustable vertical movement relative thereto by means which will bedescribed in detail hereinafter, and having a common actuator 31T forthe plural switch contacts 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D, and 31E which can beengaged and operated by cam means 21T carried by one of the two conveyormeans chains 238 tode-energize theconveyor drive means motor 27 when theheight above the support means opening 14C of the bight of theaforedescribed inverted generally U- shaped llU of the sheet of material11 reaches a desired level.

As best shown in drawing FIG. 7, the switch housing 31H of theaforedescribed first limit switch means 31 is connected to anotherendless ,chain 32 that is engaged around sprockets 33, which are, inturn, mounted on two rotatable shafts 34A and 34B that are respectivelyrotatably joumalled in the upright member 21A of the conveyor framemeans 21 adjacent its upper and lower ends. And, the lower one 343 ofthese two i sprocketed shafts34A and 34B has a handwheel 34C attached toits distal end. With'this arrangement, the handwheel 34C can be manuallyoperated by an operator of the apparatus to cause vertical movement ofthe switch housing 31H with respect to the conveyor frame means uprightmember 21A, such that the height of the common actuator 31T for theplural switch contacts 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D and 31E above the sheetsupport means opening 14C can be adjustably located at a variety ofdesired elevations. Furthermore, indicator means 35, such as theillustrated tape measure which has its distal end 35A connected to theswitch housing 31H and its casing 35C fixed to the sheet support means13 adjacent the front end 14B of the top surface 14 thereof, arepreferably provided for indicating the height above the support meansopening 14C at which the bight of the aforedescribed inverted U-shape;llU of the sheet of material 11 will be located when .the conveyordrive means motor 27 is de-energized through engagement of the commonactuator 31T and the limit switch 31 by the conveyor chain-carried cammeans 211.

As further illustrated, the apparatus 10 of the present invention isfurther provided with cutter means 36 for severing the trailing edge ofthe aforedescribed inverted generally U-shape 11U of the sheet ofmaterial 11 from the material supply means 16 after the location at thedesired height above the support means opening 14C of the bight of thatgenerally inverted U-shape 11U has been reached through theaforedescribed, respective, energization and deenergization of theconveyor drive means motor 27 by the switch means 30 and 31. As bestshown in drawing FIGS. 1, 2, and 8, the cutter means 36 comprises ablade 37 that is mounted on a carriage 38 which can be driven by areversible electrically-controlled motor 39 to move the blade 37 in agenerally horizontal plane, to and fro, across the width of the frontend 14B'of the sheet support means top surface 14. The cutter blade 37is mounted on the carriage 38, which is, in turn, movably mounted on arail 40 that is supported by brackets 40A to extend hor- 'izontallyacross the width of the sheet support means top surface '14 at a pointlocated adjacent to the opening 14C therethrough. The cutter bladecarriage drive motor 39 has a reversible rotary output shaft (not shown)that is drivingly connected by means of a cable 41 and plural pulleys 42(only one shown in drawing FIG. 1) to the carriage 38 and the carriagerail 40. And, as best shown in drawing FIG. 8, the cutter carriage drivemotor 39 is controlled by electrical control means which include a firstelectrical coil 39T, that is operable when energized to operate thecutter carriage drive motor 39 to cause the cutter blade carriage 38 tobe moved horizontally in a first direction along the carriage rail 40,and a second electrical coil 39F that is op- ;erable when energized tooperate the cutter carriage drive motor 39 to cause the cutter bladecarriage 38 to be moved horizontally in a second direction, oppositefrom the aforedescribed first direction along the carriage rail 40.

I In further accordance with the present invention, the [apparatus 10 ofthe present invention is also preferably provided with second clampmeans 49 for clamping the sheet of material 11 to the sheet supportmeans 13 ad- 'jacent to the trailing edge of the aforedescribedgenerally inverted U-shape 11U following the aforedescribedde-energization of the conveyor drive means motor 27 throughtheengagement of the first limit switch actua.

tor 31T by the cam means 21T, and prior to the starting of the operationof the cutter means to sever the generally inverted U-shape 11U from thematerial supply means 16. These second clamp means 49, are, of course,mounted to the, sheet support means 13 adjacent to an opposite edge ofthe opening 14C through the top surface 14 thereof from that where thefront clamp means 19 are located. i

As further illustrated, the construction of both the first clamp means19 and the second clamp means 49 is somewhat similar. Each respectivelycomprises a piece of angle iron 50A and 50B that has its opposite endsconnected to the piston rods 51A and 51B of two pairs of fluid-powered,electrically controlled, reciprocating motors 52A and 528 whichrespectively comprise the two separately operable drive means therefor,such that a flat face of each piece 50A and 508 extends horizontallyacross the width of the sheet support means top surface 14.

However, with the first clamp means 19, the drive means piston rods 51Aare normally retracted (as by a spring, not shown), elevating the flatsurface of their clamp piece 50A above the sheet support means topsurface 14, but can be operated through the energization of electricalcontrol means including an electrical coil 19F to move to an extendedposition clamping the leading edge 11A of the sheet of material 1 l tothe second edge 14B of the sheet support means top surface 14.

On the other hand, with the second clamp means 49, the drive meanspiston rods 51B are normally extended (as by a spring, now shown),elevating the flat surface of their clamp piece 508 above the sheetsupport means top surface 14 but can. be operated through theenergization of electrical control means including an electrical coil49S to move to a retracted position clamping the sheet of material 11adjacent the trailing edge of the aforedescribed generally invertedU-shape 11U to the sheet support means top surface 14.

As further shown in drawing FIGS. 2 and 8, the presently preferred formof the apparatus 10 of the present invention further includes two otherelectrical limit switches and 61 in addition to the aforedescribed firstlimit switch means 31. One of these two other limit switches 60comprises two switch contacts 60A and 60B housed within a single switchhousing 60H that is mounted on one of the cutter carriage rail brackets40A and has a common actuator 60T for its two switch contacts 60A and608 which can be engaged and oper ated by cam means 38F that :aremounted on one side of the cutter blade carriage 38. And, the second ofthese two other limit switches 61 comprises two switch contacts 61A and61B housed within a single switch housing 60H that is mounted on theopposite one of the cutter carriage rail brackets 40A and has a commonactuator 61T for its two switch contacts 61A and 61B which can beengaged and operated by cam means 3ST that are mounted on the oppositeside of the cutter blade carriage 38.

As shown in detail in drawing FIG. 8, the control means of the presentlypreferred form of the apparatus 10 of the present invention include theaforedescribed main switch 30 which is connected in electrical seriesacross a pair of power supply lines 1., and L by conductors 63, 64, 65,66 and 67 with the aforedescribed electrical drive coil 19F for thefront clamp means 19 through a normally closed contact 31A of the firstlimit switch 31, a normallyopen contact 60A of a first of the other twolimit switches 60 and a normally closed contact 61A of the second of theother two limit switches. The conveyor drive means motor coil 27 isconnected in electrical parallel around the aforenoted first clamp dirvemeans coil 19F and switch contacts 31A, 60A and 61A by conductors 68,69, 70 and 71 through the normally closed contact 318 of the first limitswitch 31. And, a possible by-pass circuit is provided for the conveyordrive means coil 27 through conductors 72 and 73 and the normally opencontact 613 of the second one of the other two limit switches 61. Asfurther shown, another possible by-pass circuit is also provided aroundthe switch contacts 31A and 60A through conductors 68, 74 and 75 and thenormally open contact 31C of the first limit switch 31.

The first electrical coil 39T of the cutter carriage drive means 39 isconnected in electrical parallel by conductors 68, 74, 76, 77 and 78around the contacts 31A, 60A and 61A and the electrical drive coil 19Ffor the first clamp means 19 through the normally open contact 31D ofthe first limit switch 31. And, the second electrical coil 39F for thecutter carriage drive means 39 is electrically connected in electricalparallel around the contact 31D and the first cutter drive means coil391' through the normally closed contact 31E of the first limit switchby conductors 79, 80 and 81. Finally, the electrical drive coil 49$ forthe second clamp means 49 is connected in electrical parallel around theswitch contact 31E and the second electrical coil 39F for the cutterdrive means 39 through the normally closed contact 618 of the secondother limit switch 61 and the conductors 83 and 84.

OPERATION To cut the sheet of material 11 into the segment 12 of adesired dimension for making draperies, curtains, awnings, and the liketherefrom with the illustrated novel apparatus of the present invention,the operator begins with the apparatus in its rest condition; i.e., withthe main electric switch 30 in its open position, with the cuttercarriage cam means 38F engaging the actuator 60T of the electric limitswitch 60, and with the leading one of the chain-carried rods 21R of theconveyor means located beneath the opening 14C through the sheet supportmeans top surface 14.

Then, the operator places the spooled sheet of the material 1 1 that isto be operated upon into thesupply means trough 17.

Next, the operator rotates the handwheel 34C to adjustably locate theheight above the sheet support means opening 14C at which the commonactuator 31T for the plural switch contacts 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D and 31Ewill subsequently be engaged and operated by the cam means 21T carriedby the conveyor drive means chain 23B. Preferably, this height, isindicated to the operator by the indicator means 35 and is substantiallyequal to one-half of the desired length dimension of the segment 12.

At this stage of operation, the positions of the aforedescribed switchcontacts of the presently preferred form of control means for theapparatus 10 (See especially drawing FIG. 8) will be as follows: Switchcontacts 31A, 31B, 31E, 60A and 61A will all be closed; and switchcontacts 31C, 31D, 60B, and 61B and main switch contacts 30 will all beopen. And, all drive means will be de-energized, with, consequently,both the first clamp 19 ,and second clamp 49 means bars 50A and 50Bbeing disengaged from the sheet support means top surface 14.

Then, the operator pulls the leading edge of the sheet of material 11from the supply means spool 18, across the opening 14C through thesupport means top surface 14 and located it between the second end 14Bof that surface 14 and the retracted bar 50A of the first clamp means19.

Next, the operator closes the main electric switch 30 to maintain it ina closed position, and this has the following results: (1) The firstclamp drive means electric coil 19F is electrically energized by passageof electric current from line L to line L through the now closed mainswitch 30, conductor 63, now closed switch contact 31A, conductor 64,now closed 60A, conductor 65, now closed switch contact 61A, andconductors 66 and 67, to engage the leading edge of the sheet ofmaterial 11 between the then extended first clamp means bar 50A and thesecond end 14B of the sheet support means top surface 14 (FIG. 3); (2)the conveyor drive means motor electric coil 27 is energized by passageof electric current from line L, to line L through the now closed mainswitch 30, conductors 63 and 68, now closed switch contact 31B andconductors 69, 70 and 71 to operate the conveyor means 20 to engage theleading one of the conveyor rods 21R with the underside of the leadingedge-only clamped sheet of material 11 adjacent to the opening 14Cthrough the sheet support means top surface 14 and commence formation ofthe inverted generally U-shape llU while, simultaneously, moving theconveyor chain-carried cam means 21T towards engagement with the firstlimit switch actuator 31T (FIG. 4); and ('3) the second drive meanselectric coil 39F for the cutter blade carriage 38 is electricallyenergized by passage of electric current from line L, to line L throughthe now closed main switch 30, conductors 63, 68, 74, 76 and 79, now

' closed switch contact 31E, and conductors 80, 81, 78

and 71, to move the cutter carriage 38 along its rail means 40 so as toretain its cam means 38F in engagement with the actuator 60T of thefirst other limit switch 60.

The just described condition of operation is maintained until the firstlimit switch actuator 31T is engaged and operated by theconveyor-carried cam means 21T (FIG. 5), whereupon, the aforedescribedswitch contacts are, then, re-arranged as follows: switch contacts 31A,31B and 31E are all open; switch contacts 31C and 31D are both closed;and main switch 30 and switch contact 61A both remain closed.

The following then occurs: (1) The conveyor drive means motor coil 27 isde-energized by the opening of the switch contact 31A when the bightportion of the inverted generally U-shape portion of the sheet ofmaterial 11 has reached the previously selected desired height above theopening 14C through the sheet support means top surface 14; (2) however,the first clamp means 19 continue to retain the leading edge ofthegenerally U-shaped portion llU of the sheet of material II inengagement with the second end 14B of that surface 14 because of thecontinued energization of their drive means electric coil 19 by passageof an electric current from line L, to line L through the still closedmain switch 30, conductors 63, 68 and 74, then closed switch contacts31C, conductors and 65, still closed switch contact 61A, and conductors66 and 67; and (3) while the second drive means electric coil 39F forthe cutter carriage 38A is de-energized by the aforedescribed opening ofthe switch contact 31E, the first drive means electric coil 39T for thecutter carriage 38 is then energized by passage of electric current fromline L to line L through the still closed main switch 30, conductors 63,68, 74 and 76, then closed switch contact 31D, and conductors 77, 78 and71.

This just described electric energization of the electric coil 39T forthe cutter carriage 38 now causes the carriage and its cam means 38F tobe moved along the carriage rail 40 and out of engagement with theactuator 60'! for the first other limit switch 60. And, this, in turn,results in the opening of switch contact 60A and the closing of switchcontact 608. The opening, at this time, of the switch contact 60A doesnot, because of the aforedescribed closure of the switch contact 31C,

result in the opening of the first clamp means 19 from engagement withthe leading edge of the sheet of material 11. However, the justdescribed closure of the switch contact 6013 does, at this time, resultin operation of the second clamp means 49 to clampingly engage with itsbar 50B the sheet of material 11 to the sheet support means top surface14 adjacent the trailing edge of the generally U-shaped portion 11Uthereof, by passage of electric current from line L to line L throughthe still closed main switch 30, conductors 63, 68, 74, 76, 79 and 82,the then closed switch contact 608, and conductors 83, 84, 81, 78 and71.

During this just-described condition of operation of the apparatus 10,the segment 12 of the desired dimension is severed from the materialsupply means 16 through the action by the cutter blade 37 that is movedwith the cutter carriage 38 along the carriage rail 40 by theenergization of the carriage first drive means electric coil 39T on thetrailing edge of the now stopped and fore and aft clamped invertedgenerally U-shaped portion 11U of the sheet of material 11 (FIGS. 1 and5).

Once the severing operation has been completed by the cutter means 36,the other cam means 3ST on the cutter carriage 38 will then be engagedwith the actuator 61T of the second other limit switch 61 to open theswitch contact 61A and to close the switch contact The opening of theswitch contact 61A then deenergizes the first clamp means electric coil19F and frees the segment 12 from engagement to the second end 148 ofthe support means top surface 14 by the bar 50A of the first clamp means19. And, the closure of the switch contact 61B re-energizes the conveyordrive means motor electric coil 27 by passage of an electric currentfrom line L to line L, through the still closed :main switch 30,conductors 63 and 72, the now closed switch contact 618 and conductors73, 70 and 71, thus causing the conveyor means to be operated to conveythe severed segment 12 toward the storage means 22 therefor and,simultaneously, move the conveyorcarried cam means 21T past and out ofcontact with the switch actuator 31T of the first limit switch 31.

After the conveyor cam means 21T has been moved ipast and out ofengagement with the first limit switch actuator 31T, as just describedabove, the aforedes- :cribed switch contacts are, once again,re-arranged as follows: switch contacts 31A, 31B and 3115 will all againbe closed; switch contacts 31C and 31D both will again be opened; mainswitch 30 and switch contact 608 will remain closed; and switch contact60A will remain open. The following then occurs: (1) The justdescribedopening .of the switch contact 31D deenergizes the first drivemeanselectric coil 39T for the cutter blade carriage 38, while thejust-described closure of the switch contact 31E results inre-energization of thesecond drive means electric coil 39F for thecutter blade carriage 38 by passage of an electrical current from lineL, to line L, through the still closed main switch 30, conductors 63,68, 74, 76 and 79, now closed switch contact 31B and conductors 80, 81,78 and 71 to move the cutter carriage 38 along its rail means 40 so asto remove its cam means 3ST from engagement with the actuator 61T of thesecond other limit switch, thus allowing reclosure of switch contact 61Aand re-opening of switch contact 618 and simultaneously moving the othercam means 38F toward ultimate re-engagement with the actuator T of thefirst other limit switch; and (2) the just-described re-closure of theswitch contact 31B continues to re-energize the conveyor drive meanscoil 27 by passage of an electric current from line L to line L throughthe still closed main switch 30, conductors 63 and 68, the re-closedswitch contacts 318 and the conductors 69, and 71, continuing thetransport of the just-severed segment 12 toward the storage means 22therefor, upon the top surface of which 22A, the same is ultimatelydeposited, as best shown in drawing FIG. 6.

Now, during the intervening time period between the aforedescribedre-energization of the second cutter carriage drive means coil 39F bythe reclosure of switch contact 31E, and the subsequent re-engagementand operation of the switch actuator 60T by the cam means 38F carried bythe cutter carriage 38, the operator places the leading edge oftheremainder of the, as yet unused, sheet of material 11 between the secondend 148 of the sheet support means top surface 14 and the retracted bar50A of the first clamp means 19. However, none of this, as yet unused,remaining portion of the sheet of material 11 will be engaged by theconveyor means 21 until after the occurrence of the aforenotedre-engagement of the cutter carriage cam means 38F with the actuator 60Tof the first other limit switch 60 to operate the same to re-open switch'contact 608 and, thus, de-energize the second clamp drive meanselectric coil 49S and release the second clamp means 49 from engagementtherewith, and to reclose the switch contact 60A and thus re-energizethe first clamp drive means electric coil 19F by passage of electriccurrent from line L to line L through the still closed main switch 30,conductor 63, the re-closed switch contact 31A, conductor 64, justre-closed switch contact 60A, conductor 65, re-closed contact 61A andconductors 66 and 67.

Unless the main switch 30 is now manually re-opened by the operator, theapparatus 10 will now, essentially repeat the aforedescribed operationalsequence and form and store a second segment, of identical dimension, tothe segment 12. Should, however, the operator wish to adjust the lengthdimension of any such second or subsequent segment that is to beprovided by the apparatus 10, this can, of course, be accomplished bymanually opening the main switch 30 and then rotating the handwheel 34to re-adjust the elevation location of the actuator 31T of the firstlimit switch 31 prior to the engagement of the remaining, as yet unused,portion of the sheet of material 11 by the leading one of the conveyorrods 21R.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that while there hasbeen described what presently is considered to be a presently preferredembodiment of this invention in accordance with the Patent Statutes,changes may be made in the disclosed apparatus without actuallydeparting from the true spirit and scope of this invention. It istherefore intended that the appended claims shall cover suchmodifications and applications that may not depart from the true spiritand scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for cutting a sheet of material into a segment of a desireddimension for making draperies, curtains, awnings, and the like,therefrom, comprising:

a. support means having a first end and a second end opposite from saidfirst end and an opening therethrough between said ends;

b. supply means mounted adjacent to said first end of said support meansfor supplying a sheet of material;

c. clamp means mounted adjacent to said second end of said support meansfor clamping a leading edge of said sheet of material thereto;

d. conveyor means including a conveyor section extending through saidsupport means opening and being engageable with the underside of saidsheet of material between said supply means and said clamp means;

e. conveyor drive means for driving said conveyor means to cause aportion of said sheet of material to be disposed on said conveyorsection over said support means opening in an inverted generally U-shape;

f. first control means for energizing said conveyor drive means;

g. second control means for de-energizing said conveyor drive means whenthe height above said support means opening of the bight of saidinverted generally U-shape reaches a desired level; and

h. cutter means for severing the trailing edge of said invertedgenerally U-shape of said sheet of material from said supply means.

2. The invention of claim 1, further including second clamp means forclamping said sheet of material to said support means adjacent to thetrailing edge of said inverted generally U-shape during said severing bysaid cutter means.

3. The invention of claim 2, further including:

a. third control means for energizing second drive means to operate saidfirst-mentioned clamp means to clamp the leading edge of said sheet ofmaterial to said first end of said support means prior to the operationof said second control means; and

b. fourth control means for energizing third drive means to operate saidsecond clamp means to clamp said sheet of material to said support meansfollowing the operation of said second control means and prior to saidsevering by said cutter means.

4. The invention of claim 3, further including fifth control means forenergizing fourth drive means to cause said cutter means to perform saidsevering.

5. The invention of claim 4, further including sixth control meansoperable after said severing by said cutter means to de-energize saiddrive means for said firstmentioned clamp means and to, then,re-energize said conveyor drive means to further transport the severedinverted generally U-shape toward a storage area.

6. The invention of claim 5, wherein said desired level can beselectively adjusted by said second control means.

7. The invention of claim 6, wherein said desired level is substantiallyequal to one-half of the desired dimension of said segment.

8. The invention of claim 5, wherein said desired level is substantiallyequal to one-half of the desired dimension of said segment.

9. The invention of claim 1, wherein said desired level can beselectively adjusted by said second control means.

mension of said segment.

1. Apparatus for cutting a sheet of material into a segment of a desireddimension for making draperies, curtains, awnings, and the like,therefrom, comprising: a. support means having a first end and a secondend opposite from said first end and an opening therethrough betweensaid ends; b. supply means mounted adjacent to said first end of saidsupport means for supplying a sheet of material; c. clamp means mountedadjacent to said second end of said support means for clamping a leadingedge of said sheet of material thereto; d. conveyor means including aconveyor section extending through said support means opening and beingengageable with the underside of said sheet of material between saidsupply means and said clamp means; e. conveyor drive means for drivingsaid conveyor means to cause a portion of said sheet of material to bedisposed on said conveyor section over said support means opening in aninverted generally U-shape; f. first control means for energizing saidconveyor drive means; g. second control means for de-energizing saidconveyor drive means when the height above said support means opening ofthe bight of said inverted generally U-shape reaches a desired level;and h. cutter means for severing the trailing edge of said invertedgenerally U-shape of said sheet of material from said supply means. 2.The invention of claim 1, further including second clamp means forclamping said sheet of material to said support means adjacent to thetrailing edge of said inverted generally U-shape during said severing bysaid cutter means.
 3. The invention of claim 2, further including: a.third control means for energizing second drive means to operate saidfirst-mentioned clamp means to clamp the leading edge of said sheet ofmaterial to said first end of said support means prior to the operationof said second control means; and b. fourth control means for energizingthird drive means to operate said second clamp means to clamp said sheetof material to said support means following the operation of said secondcontrol means and prior to said severing by said cutter means.
 4. Theinvention of claim 3, further including fifth control means forenergizing fourth drive means to cause said cutter means to perform saidsevering.
 5. The invention of claim 4, further including sixth controlmeans operable after said severing by said cutter means to de-energizesaid drive means for said first-mentioned clamp means and to, then,re-energize said conveyor drive means to further transport the severedinverted generally U-shape toward a storage area.
 6. The invention ofclaim 5, wherein said desired level can be selectively adjusted by saidsecond control means.
 7. The invention of claim 6, wherein said desiredlevel is substantially equal to one-half of the desired dimension ofsaid segment.
 8. The invention of claim 5, wherein said desired level issubstantially equal to one-half of the desired dimension of saidseGment.
 9. The invention of claim 1, wherein said desired level can beselectively adjusted by said second control means.
 10. The invention ofclaim 1, wherein said desired level is substantially equal to one-halfof the desired dimension of said segment.